The Big Fail: Obama Says Chavez Not A Serious Threat

Obama Ignores The Damaging Impact Of The Chavez Regime On Its Latin American Neighbors And Around The World 

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In An Interview With Miami Broadcast Journalist Oscar Haza, “Obama Said Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Has Not Posed A ‘Serious’ National Security Threat To The United States.” “Oscar Haza, a well known Miami Spanish-language broadcast journalist and anchor, scored an interview this week in Washington with President Barack Obama in which Obama said Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has not posed a “serious” national security threat to the United States.” (Patricia Mazzei, “Obama To Miami Anchor: Hugo Chávez Has Not Posed ‘Serious’ National Security Threat,” The Miami Herald ‘s “Naked Politics” Blog , 7/ 10/12)

Obama: “Overall, My Sense Is That What Mr. Chávez Has Done Over The Last Several Years Has Not Had A Serious National Security Impact On Us.” OSCAR HAZA: “In ten seconds, are you worried about the alliance between Iran and Venezuela, and Huge Chavez?” PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: “We’re always concerned about Iran engaging in destabilizing activity around the globe. But overall, my sense is that what Mr. Chávez has done over the last several years has not had a serious national security impact on us.” (America TeVe’s “A Mano Limpia,” 7/10/12)

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OBAMA IGNORES CHAVEZ’S “DANGEROUS POTENTIAL FOR MISCHIEF-MAKING AND CONFLICT”

Chavez’s Support For Cuba And Close Ties To Iran Make Venezuela “A Nation With A Dangerous Potential For Mischief-Making And Conflict.” “Without Mr. Chávez’s generous subsidies and oil concessions, Cuba’s economy would be unsustainable. Venezuela’s president has become the uncontested first among equals in an array of populist leaders whose only agenda is clinging to power and waving the ragged banner of anti-Americanism. This includes Bolivia, Nicaragua and Ecuador, plus Cuba and Venezuela. Add to that Mr. Chávez’s friendly ties with Iran’s leaders and his support for their nuclear ambitions, and the result is a nation with a dangerous potential for mischief-making and conflict.” (Editorial, “New Perils For Venezuela,” The Miami Herald, 2/23/12)

Chavez’s Close Relationship With Iranian President Ahmadinejad Is A Clear Threat To U.S. National Security

Venezuela Is Iran’s “Closest” Friend In Latin America. “Brazil is Iran’s largest trading partner in the region, doing about $1.3 billion in commerce, according to Latin Business Chronicle. But Iran’s closest ties are with Venezuela. Ahmadinejad and Chávez have met almost a dozen times and the nations have announced more than 200 joint projects, including oil field work, residential construction projects and a bicycle factory. Milani admitted that the value of these projects has never been made public, but he estimated them at between $5 billion and $6 billion.” (Jim Wyss, “Iran Leader’s ‘Tour Of Tyrants’ Raises Concern In U.S.,”The Miami Herald, 1/6/12)

• In Response To Obama’s Diplomatic Outreach, “Chavez Deepened His Relations With Other American Antagonists Including Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.” “It was a sharp contrast from the days, early in the administration, when Venezuela was considered to be one of the easier adversaries to win over with dialogue. The two countries exchanged ambassadors again after having called them home at a breaking point in relations in 2008, and Obama and Chavez shook hands and smiled for cameras at a regional summit in 2009. But the handshakes never transitioned to conversations, as each country accused the other of hegemonic actions in South America, and Chavez deepened his relations with other American antagonists including Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.” (Howard Lafranchi, “Has Obama’s ‘Let’s Talk’ Approach Worked With US Adversaries? A Report Card,” Christian Science Monitor , 12/23/11)

The Miami Herald : “Increased Connections And Travel Between Tehran And Caracas Have Enabled Iran To Establish A Base For Increased Activity In The Americas.”“Within the hemisphere, the administration should also use this reckless scheme to highlight the efforts of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez to make his country Iran’s headquarters in this part of the world. Increased connections and travel between Tehran and Caracas have enabled Iran to establish a base for increased activity in the Americas.” (Editorial, “Iran’s Latest Plot,”The Miami Herald, 10/13/11)

• In January 2012, A Venezuelan Diplomat Was Expelled For Plotting Cyber-Attacks Against The U.S. “The Obama administration is expelling Venezuela’s consul general in Miami after allegations surfaced that she discussed possible cyber-attacks on U.S. soil while she was stationed at her country’s embassy in Mexico. The State Department said Sunday that it had declared the diplomat, Livia Acosta Noguera, persona non grata and given her until Tuesday to leave the country.” (Matthew Lee, “U.S. Expels Venezuelan Diplomat,” The Associated Press, 1/9/12)

In 2009, Mexican President Calderon Warned U.S. Officials “That Iran’s Growing Influence In Latin American Should Be Of Considerable Concern To The United States, And Chavez Is Doing All He Can To Aid And Abet It.” “One cable from Oct. 23, 2009, was sent to the State Department four days after Dennis Blair, then the director of national intelligence, met with President Felipe Calderon. The cable indicated that Calderon had brought up the issue of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and his relations with Iran. ‘Calderon underscored that Iran’s growing influence in Latin American should be of considerable concern to the United States, and Chavez is doing all he can to aid and abet it,’ the cable said.” (Tim Johnson, “Mexico Seen As Unlikely Launching Pad For Iranian Plot,”McClatchy, 10/12/11)

Aid From Venezuela Is Helping The Assad Regime Continue Its Brutal Crackdown On The Syrian People

Chavez Is Helping To “Prop Up” The Assad Regime By Sending Fuel Shipments To Syria. “A day before the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn President Bashar al-Assad of Syria this month for his bloody crackdown on the uprising in his country, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela was conducting a very different kind of diplomacy on his own. A ship owned by the Venezuelan state oil company sailed into the Syrian port of Baniyas, its location” captured by a satellite system that tracks ship movements. The ship, making its second trip to Baniyas since December, appeared to be carrying fuel to help prop up the embattled Mr. Assad.” (William Neuman, “As Others Isolate Syria, Chavez Ships Fuel To It,” The New York Times, 2/22/12)

• Venezuela Joins Iran And Russia In “An Informal Bloc Of Nations Working To Stymie The West’s Efforts To Topple Mr. Assad.” “Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his state-oil company are providing vital energy support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and conducting business with Syrian firms blacklisted by Washington and Brussels, according to documents relating to the deals. That puts Venezuela alongside Russia and Iran in an informal bloc of nations working to stymie the West’s efforts to topple Mr. Assad and break up his military alliance with Iran, U.S. officials and Syrian activists say.” (Jay Solomon and Keith Johnson, “To Power Syria, Chávez Sends Diesel,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/10/12)